Have you ever been approached in a parking lot by a smarmy person trying to sell you stereo speakers?

@TheHorse (205716)
Walnut Creek, California
September 21, 2016 5:08pm CST
Here's how it goes: You are approached by a couple of slightly shady looking guys in the parking lot of Good Guys, Best Buy, or some other retail outlet. They are standing next to a white van. They say something along the lines of: "Hey, we just did an install at someone's house and they gave us an extra pair of speakers. These are worth $2500, but we'll let you have them for $800." They show you a couple of boxes and one of them says: "Retail price: $2500" on the box, along with a product name like "Kirsch." You say, "I'll give you $200. That's the best I can do." They accept it, and you drive home thinking you've gotten a great deal. Actually what you've bought are speakers worth about $40. They are so poorly designed they can damage your amplifier. You have been "had" by what's called the "White Van Speaker Scam." White van scammers are all over the United States, and I believe they are present in Europe and Australia as well. I'm not sure about Asia or the Philippines. They used the "door in the face" sales technique on you (starting at a very high price and coming down), and sold you garbage (rubbish, if you're in Britain) at a handsome profit. If you are approached by someone offering you "high end speakers at a great price," DO NOT BUY THEM, no matter how low they are willing to go on price. I've been approached a couple of times, but sensed that something was way off, so I didn't bite. Note: Much of this post originally appeared on "the site that will not be named." This is the first time I've used a "saved" post on MyLot. Have you done that yet, assuming you wrote "over there," or on other similar sites? Photo is by me.
13 people like this
14 responses
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
22 Sep 16
I haven't heard of that scam, but I wouldn't be interested in what they have to offer at any rate. Good to know you're on your toes and watching out for us who know no better. I think I have posted an article I had from the site that will not be named. By any chance are you reading Harry Potter and expect bad things to happen if you name that which should not be named?
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
No, for me, it's an extension of a family joke from the days of our road trips from Chicago to Montana. There was a town in Eastern Montana that was so ugly and barren, we decided we couldn't sully ourselves by calling it by name. Is "that which shall not be named" from Harry Potter as well?
3 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
22 Sep 16
@TheHorse Yes. That's where I thought you got it from. Interesting there is a town like that as well.
3 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse EWWW!
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Sep 16
My speaker-purchasing days are over, but the same can be said of white-van man offering to tarmac your driveway...
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Sep 16
I haven't been approached by a white van driveway guy yet!
2 people like this
@jstory07 (134458)
• Roseburg, Oregon
22 Sep 16
I have never been appoached by anyone selling speakers but once by a man that stole meat in the grocery store and than was outside trying to sell it.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
Oh, I've seen people trying to sell meat as well. Can you imagine buying something you're going to put into your body from someone "on the street"? Yikes!
1 person likes this
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
21 Sep 16
I never have, to answer both questions. Sounds like they have quite the scam going. I wonder how often they get away with it.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Sep 16
Often enough to sustain the practice over several years or decades, I think. Similar products were also found on eBay for awhile. I haven't checked lately to see if they're still there.
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Sep 16
I brought some of my poetry over, but not many of the posts, I had never heard of this, but I would be leary of men in a van trying to sell me anything
2 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
24 Sep 16
@TheHorse yes, yes there is, granted we all fall for something stupid at some point
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Sep 16
@Jessicalynnt I don't even want to admit the time I got suckered.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Sep 16
Yep. I guess there really is a sucker born every minute.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Sep 16
It's been years, but in the 80's they approached me almost daily. It must be a lucrative scam since they're still doing it.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
In the '80s, having a "cool stereo" was still "a thing." I wonder if jive monkey parking lot speakers will be replaced by jive monkey parking lot cell phones or some such.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Sep 16
I am a shortm older woman and if some odd looking 'smarmy' men approached me about this and were standing near a van of any color I would scream bloody murder. Maybe that would scare the bejeseus out of them and they wouldn't be doing this fraudulent act anymore.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Sep 16
@TheHorse ....Yeah, that's about right. Have to be on the defensive with smarmy people.
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
22 Sep 16
I have never heard of them in Europe, but on the Italian toll roads, when you stop at the gasoline stations, there are those who approach you and propose to sell watches and other kind of jewels. This is so well known that the police has placed warning signs.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
22 Sep 16
@TheHorse The jewelry sold by those scammers is not stolen, but the gold is not gold and the stones are not precious.
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
Ah, interesting. I've had a few people approach me on the street with random jewelry, etc., probably stolen, but gas stations are not where I see most of them.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48929)
• United States
22 Sep 16
This also occurs in Mississippi.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
Is it with stereo speakers? Or other stuff as well?
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
28 Sep 16
Most of the time, around here, at least, the person is selling box lots of steaks or lobster..... once it was a box lot of pork chops.... I never buy from those guys! The top layer of the meat looks perfect. Anything below that is normally green or not even food, let alone steak or lobster! (This scam was featured on the news here quite some time ago.) I haven't used any of my bubbles on any other site, yet. I did write some pretty interesting posts for that site, as well as WebAnswers, but I never think anyone will be interested in reading them. (I usually figure nobody is going to read the few discussion starters I do post, either. I am always surprised when people bother to say anything on them and am not surprised that most people don't bother saying anything on them. (sigh!))
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
28 Sep 16
@TheHorse Hmmm... you're an unusual horse! Most don't eat meat at all, so green steaks don't bother them! I hope your appetite comes back! I would hate for you to go to bed hungry, pony!
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Sep 16
The horror. The thought of green steak just undid my appetite.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
22 Sep 16
Selling like that is not reliable. It is comparable to scams,
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
It IS a scam!
1 person likes this
@paigea (35678)
• Canada
28 Sep 16
I haven't been offered speakers. Just small things like CDs.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Sep 16
Have you ever bought anything?
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Sep 16
@paigea Oh, I see that as legit. Not a scam.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35678)
• Canada
29 Sep 16
@TheHorse No, not from people stopping me to resell stuff. Yes to people who have set up a "stall" and are selling crafts or something. That seems more legit.
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11038)
• Hyderabad, India
22 Sep 16
There are many people selling articles of our choice in the Koti and Begam Bazaar They not only speaker but also Airplane, car, llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
Yikes! How do these Bazaars work? Is most of the stuff sold legitimate?
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
22 Sep 16
I would never willingly buy from someone selling anything off a truck in a parking lot. My assumption would be that they're selling stolen goods.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
I wondered that too. They're actually "hired" by a down low Company to do what they do.